work 1 of 2

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as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
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as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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work

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noun

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as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
His mother worked as a doctor in China, and juggled three jobs in the U.S. for over a decade, saving up enough to eventually open a medical clinic. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 31 May 2025 The data doesn't lie: vaccines work, including against COVID-19. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
On top of these funding woes, Beckman said the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, and shifting attitudes towards foreigners in the US, has also pushed her to look for work elsewhere. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 1 June 2025 He is noted for exceptional design work on notable homes in the area. James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2025
  • In Nigeria, the removal of the fuel subsidy and exchange rate controls caused disruption: the naira fell, fuel prices initially tripled, and food prices spiked.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Eventually the problem of making safe, fuel-efficient, consumer-friendly automobiles was more or less solved.
    Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • With an intention to welcome 1 million foreign workers over the next three years, the plan to solve Spain's overtourism issues has never been more prescient.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • Grasslands, like those that dominate the eastern plains of Colorado, provide important habitat for wildlife and serve as a critical food source for livestock.
    Matthew Sturchio, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
  • The sales tax measure would be limited to areas served by MTS, so North County communities would be excluded because they are served by the North County Transit District.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • But this year, the original cast members of Hamilton are not throwing away their shot to perform at Broadway’s biggest night.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 June 2025
  • Also in New York City, Uma Thurman brings her daughter Luna to the opening night of Eurydice, while Ciara performs at King's Cross in London.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • During my visit, Leal and I drove in his vintage Jeep to 1900 Barker, a coffee shop on Lawrence’s main drag.
    Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • Much of the innovation that drives societal progress and economic productivity does not emerge from revolutions in thought, but from the subtle extension and application of existing knowledge.
    John Drake, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Signet also operates Banter by Piercing Pagoda, Diamonds Direct, Blue Nile, JamesAllen.com, Rocksbox, Peoples Jewellers, H. Samuel and Ernest Jones.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
  • For years, sales teams have operated under intense pressure to hit growth targets.
    Sean Brophy, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • While many companies have struggled to define their policies, bouncing between strict return-to-office mandates and hybrid compromises, Logitech has taken a different path.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Rob Crossan January 17, 2025 Marketed as a luxury tourist destination, the Maldives struggles with the legacy of an authoritarian government and the existential threat of climate change.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The initiative draws water from the L.A. River in downtown L.A., cleans it and uses it to irrigate Los Angeles State Historic Park.
    Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 June 2025
  • In 2024, Summers performed an Off-Broadway show about his life titled The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers, which used Double Dare to tell his life story.
    Victoria Edel, People.com, 31 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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